It might be time to consider joint replacement.
Eastside offers highly personalized orthopedic care in an exclusive,
hotel-like atmosphere with private patient rooms, dining room and
therapy gym. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons work with
our patient navigator to provide the support and education you
need throughout our specialized program that often results in less
pain, quicker recovery times, shorter hospital stays and superior
surgical outcomes. This program was developed in collaboration
with nationally recognized healthcare firm.

How I love the Spring! Traditionally, we think of spring as the
season between winter and fall when we look forward to the coming
summer. A time of new growth.
I was thinking about that and how Snellville is really in a “Spring.”
Snellville is in a time of new growth and looking forward to the
coming season. You see this in the Towne Green construction in
the middle of the city, new business and development throughout
the city, and all the new activities that are planned for the coming
season. STAT has a great schedule of events this year and we are
looking forward to being right in the middle of the new Towne
Green.
I was looking at the definition of spring, I realized that it is not
only the season but is also used as a verb. Spring can mean to come
up or out of something into existence. Spring implies rapid or sudden
emerging. That also sounds like the Spring of Snellville. Snellville
is on the move and it is great to see everyone working together on
the community activities and business that will make Snellville a
stronger and more vibrant community. We’ve got a new “Spring” in
our step!
You can check out the great schedule of upcoming events on our
website at www.snellvilletourism.com. Make sure and mark your
calendars. You can also stay connected with the Snellville Commerce
Club that meets the first Tuesday each month at City Hall - Where
Business Thrives!
I would like to thank our Keystone Sponsor for 2016 – Eastside
Medical Center! We could not do all that we do without our
sponsors and we look forward to partnering with Eastside Medical to
make Snellville a place we can all be proud to call home.
Enjoy the spring!

Get ready for Snellville’s premier festival.
Take a look at the progress of the Towne Green.
The city’s development reach is getting stronger.
The annual event kicks off the city’s event season.
Area students are showing their flair for business.
Upcoming events at T.W. Briscoe Park.
Veterans to be remembered in Snellville.

The Snellville Senior Center is always hopping.
Which bands are playing STAT’s concert series?
You can do more than just walk in T.W. Briscoe Park.
A rundown of all of Snellville Tourism and Trade events.
The Snellville Farmer’s Market opens June 4.
Businesses open or opening in Snellville.
5 5

MAYOR’S MESSAGE
By Tom Witts, Mayor of Snellville

Following the election in November, Snellville finally is
“united.”
We now have a Mayor and Council that has pledged to work
together for the betterment of the city.
Social media is glowing with praise for this new direction we
hope will continue for years to come.
As mayor, I know there is a lot of work to do, but we have hit
the ground running.
The new Towne Green, in front of City Hall, has been
redesigned to provide attendees of the many events there, a safer,
greener and more attractive experience. A wall, stage, shrubbery

I invite everyone to join our
team in a ‘united’ Snellville and
enjoy the progress to come.

and signature sundial highlight the new
greenspace.
Cross Oak Road and you will see
Memorial Park with the popular Veterans
Memorial, the area’s first labyrinth – a
meditative walking path - and new public art.
T.W. Briscoe Park has new ballfields,
tennis courts and soccer facilities thanks
WITTS
to Special Local Option Sales Tax funds
which will provide expanded recreation
opportunities for residents for years to come.
Last year, we completed work on our Livable Centers
Initiative which provides a walkable streetscape in the downtown
area. The new wide sidewalk, lighting and pedestrian amenities
will provide an attractive foundation for our long-term goal of
creating a vibrant downtown with unique mixed-use projects
providing opportunities for commercial developers and potential
residents.
I invite everyone to join our team in a “united” Snellville and
enjoy the progress to come.

POLICE BEAT
By Roy Whitehead, Chief of Police
In an effort to open lines of communication with our
community, the Snellville Police Department is active on social
media; particularly, Facebook and Twitter.
We encourage everyone to “LIKE” us on Facebook to
receive good information on current events, find out what the
Department is doing, enjoy the humor and the opportunity to
communicate with us. Our department social media efforts have
been recognized and used as a model for other agencies. We
have over 11,000 followers and want to reach out to as many
people as possible. Please take this opportunity to get involved
with us.

WHITEHEAD

We offer a program in what to do if
confronted with an “active shooter”
situation. Over 200 community members
have been provided the training known as
Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events
(C.R.A.S.E.). We thank the First Baptist
Church of Snellville for partnering with us
and offering the use of their facilities for
the classes. Lt. Rob Pendleton and Lt. Dean
Boone have provided excellent programs that
have been extremely well received.

If your organization would like to host one of these classes,
please contact me at rwhitehead@snellville.org.

The Department proudly recognizes the retirements of K-9
Bart, handled by Sgt. Will Collins, and K-9 Coop, handled by
Ofc. Dennis Peters. Both dogs served the city with distinction.
Ofc. Peters is also retiring from the K-9 Unit and will continue
to serve as a patrol officer. Mayor Tom Witts and City Council
have recognized the service, dedication and loyalty of these
teams with recent Proclamations in their honor.
Sgt. Rain Nieddu recently attended the National Criminal
Enforcement Association conference in Reno, Nevada. The
annual conference provides extensive training and recognizes
those officers who excel in aggressive pursuit of the criminal
element. Sgt. Nieddu received recognition as runner-up for the
Street Level Interdiction Officer of the year for her successful
efforts in 2015. The organization boasts 6,500 members from
throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guam and
Ghana. This is a major achievement and our city is proud of Sgt.
Nieddu’s accomplishment.
66

Snellville Police Chief Roy Whitehead and Sgt. Rain Nieddu
who recently attended the National Criminal Enforcement
Association conference where she was recognized for her
achievements.

Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

PUBLIC WORKS

By Gaye Johnson, Director of Public Works
The City of Snellville Public Works Department has a
number of different responsibilities. We have a 17-person staff
that handles city road and street repairs, stormwater sewer
inspections and projects, street sign repair and replacement and
landscape maintenance for all city buildings, road medians inside
the city limits on Highway 124, city right-of-way areas and the
historical cemetery.
Litter control and Snellville’s Recycling Center are also
the responsibility of the Public Works Department, as are all
residential and commercial sanitation and recycling needs. City
event set-ups including all Christmas decorations on light poles
and installation of the city’s Christmas tree. All maintenance
for the city’s equipment and vehicles is also handled by Public
Works.
Questions about streets are very common, and frequently,
we’re asked to repair a street that is not the city’s responsibility.
Gwinnett County is in charge of repairs and maintenance on
a number of roads including Wisteria Drive, Skyland Drive,
Lenora Church Road, Henry Clower Boulevard, most of
Oak Road, and Highway 124. The Georgia Department of
Transportation handles Highway 78.

Recycling Center. When available, mulch
is free if you load it yourself, and costs $10
for a backhoe scoop. We also sell firewood
when we have it on hand.
Keep in mind that curbside recycling
pick-ups are currently limited to 6 items.
Beginning in July there may be more options
for curbside recycling due to changes in
JOHNSON
sanitation and recycling services. One
change we know will occur is that glass will
no longer be picked up curbside, although it can still be brought
to the recycling center. Cardboard will replace glass as a material
that can be recycled in the curbside bins.
Our office hours at Public Works are Monday through
Thursday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our phone number is 770-9853527. The recycling center is open Monday through Saturday 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. and its direct number is 770-985-3539. You can
also follow us on Facebook at “Snellville Public Works” to keep
up with the latest information.
We are all very proud to call Snellville Public Works our team
family and work home and we look forward to hearing from you.

Residents living within the city limits are welcome to use
the award winning Recycling Center - a yard debris drop off
area and the junk container. The costs associated with these two
services, which are paid for with tax revenues, require us to limit
their use to city residents so bring your driver’s license.
Please check our website (www.snellville.org, then click
on “Departments” and then “Public Works”) for the range of
materials we accept for recycling, and those items that are
hazardous and not accepted. You can also bring “gently used”
clothing and household items to the American Kidney Fund
drop-off facility located in the Recycling Center. (For more
information go to www.kidneyfund.org.)
If you’re in the market for mulch or firewood, contact the

BOOTING HUNGER
Snellville came out on top over Grayson in the Give
Hunger the Boot Challenge this year, after Grayson
took the prize during the event’s first year. Snellville
residents came up big as they collected more than 6,000
food items and raised $15,187 to benefit the Southeast
Gwinnett Co-op. The trophy for the contest now sits
in City Hall. A plaque is also on display, which will
show the winners of the event annually. From left are
Councilman Dave Emanuel, Mayor Tom Witts and Kathy
Emanuel. The Emanuels founded Give Hunger the Boot
which has a goal to feed the area’s needy.

ENTERTAINMENT
Peter Hart, Puppeteer - Our “Specialty Puppet” show is filled with music, color,
action, and unique puppets. It is a show for everyone in a family audience. There is a
degree of humor, sophistication, cleverness and skill presented for grownups to totally
enjoy the performance. The show is in a variety format that is perfect for a walk-by
audience. All of the puppet routines presented have some form of audience interaction
or participation.

Kachunga and the Alligator Show - From deep in the swamps of Florida comes
Kachunga, a real American Bushman who dares to step foot into the wet domain of the
alligator. Watch in astonishment as he apprehends a ferocious man-eating reptile with
his bare hands. Most people have never seen an alligator up close. The mystique of
these giant reptiles is in itself a big draw. Now imagine the thrill of watching a man pit
his strength and agility against nine feet-300 lbs. of lashing tail and gnashing jaws in a
dangerous dance of reflexes and cunning. Kachunga’s struggle with the alligator keeps
each member of the audience on the edge of their seat biting their nails and curling
their toes.
Carrie McQueen
Stiltwalker - Not only
does she wield them like
they are her own legs, she
also juggles, dances, and
creates an atmosphere of
fun and excitement. She is
outgoing and interactive –
attracting attention with her
personality. Carrie started
her career in Kansas City,
then moved to the Atlanta
area in 1997 and has been
performing around the
country and abroad ever
since.

Robinson’s Racing Pigs - This little piggy went to Snellville Days last
year and now this little piggy can’t stay home. Come watch these adorable
pigs race for OREOS….yes, OREOS. They were a big hit at the 2015
Snellville Days and we welcome them back for more.
8

Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

SNELLVILLE DAYS
VOLUNTEERS

For all our volunteers, you are the best people in the world.

The city is having its 43rd annual Snellville Days this year and it would have never happened if not for the people who
come forward and take the thankless jobs. You make it so seamless that the public never knows how very difficult it is
to pull this off. We have sometimes been hampered by bad weather, but the volunteers have already spent thousands
of hours all year long to then have the skies open up. It is so amazing that we have only been completely washed out
twice. We are shining our spotlight on two volunteers this year who go above and beyond to make this city a place so
many people call “home.” You all are family to us.
- Snellville Parks and Recreation
Marcia Mitchell is a long time resident of Snellville. She worked as an
EMT and then worked at Eastside Medical as a Schedule Coordinator for the
Operating room. There she met Snellville Days Committee Chairman, Bob
Davis. She retired but hopes to get a degree in psychology and become an
addiction counselor.
Marcia has one son, Phillip; who is the Recreation Manager for Brookhaven
Parks. She has special memories of taking her son to watch the Snellville Days
Parade when he was 5 months old and walking with him in the Parade when
he was a Cub Scout, circa 1994. She started volunteering for Snellville Days in
2010 and never left; the truth is we won’t let her leave. Thanks Marcia for all
you do.
Debra Pennington has resided in Snellville since 1996. She has two daughters; Angelica is in college
to become a nurse and Jessica works for Lowes in Snellville. A couple of years back Debra retired from
ATT after 40 years. She decided she wanted to “give back.” She has volunteered for Snellville Days for
11 years and we hope many more.
Debra is a longtime member of the Telephone Pioneers and a member of the Snellville Senior
Center. She volunteers for both and also for the Grayson Senior Center, the Bethesda Senior Center, the
Centerville Community Center, and STAT. She attends Art Commission meetings and is a graduate of the
Snellville Citizens Police Academy. If you see her at Snellville Days, you will know her by her smile.
Thanks Debra.

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Economic Development Spring 2016

SNELLVILLE’S TOWNE GREEN
A Labor of Love

By Eric Van Otteren
The Towne Green and Memorial Park will soon be complete.

From early planning meetings to the present, the Snellville
community has engaged in contributing, knowing and learning
about the new Towne Green. As the centerpiece, the compass
rose is a fitting signature element illustrating the unity and
direction of the city and its leaders.

The project started slowly with many details to align as JHC
began working just after October 1. Then immediately after the
Christmas Tree lighting they moved focus to the Towne Green
from the Memorial park. It seemed like shortly after starting on
the Green that the city should have commissioned an ark instead
of the Green. The rain delays caused several difficulties, that
were each worked through. The work really began in earnest in
February. And as I am writing this, we are racing to the finish.
The sod was placed the first week of April. It’s seemed like the
landscapers kept digging holes and the contractors kept laying
brick.

Have you been watching the progress on The Towne Green?
For months now the contractors have been diligently at work.
They have been digging, cementing, building, planting, and all
the other things that must come together in the end. As the person
who was delegated as the project manager, I wish to report that
the contractor, JHC Corporation, has served the community well.

Now come join the celebration as the Beach Blast opens on
May 21 we will officially cut the ribbon on the Snellville Towne
Green. I cannot wait to see what the future brings. Come be the
first to walk on the sod. The fun. The parties. The Sundial. The
Participants. A place …Snellville...Where Everybody is PROUD
to be Somebody!

As you read this the Towne Green may be finished, but please
do not walk on it until the grand opening on May 21, when the
Beach Blast opens. The Towne Green has been a labor of love of
the community at large.

12

They have been focused on a friendly working relationship and
working hard until the end.

Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

DAS URA
DDA
(Development Authority of Snellville)

(Downtown Development Authority of Snellville)

By Eric Van Otteren
A little alphabet soup is good, unless it is made up of acronyms
that no one knows. This column is written to let people know of the
organizations, their corresponding acronyms and a little about how
they serve the city.
Let me share the translation first. Then I will share a little about
each organization. And finally, I will share additional details about
the URA. In a future article we may touch on the DDA and DAS.
So, here are the translations:
DAS – Development Authority of Snellville
DDA – Downtown Development Authority of Snellville
URA – Urban Redevelopment Agency of Snellville
One may then ask, “What is an authority?” These authorities
are local government authorities. Local government authorities are
separate entities created by state and local legislative action for a
specific public purpose. Local governments create authorities as a
means of providing a wide range of services to their citizens and
have used them in increasing numbers to deliver services.
The City of Snellville has recently reinstated the Development
Authority of Snellville. The DAS was created as a joint authority
with the Downtown Development Authority. The Development
Authority of Snellville/Downtown Development Authority are
composed of seven overlapping members who are appointed by the
Mayor and Council. The organizations are recognized by the state
of Georgia as a public corporation with a specified set of powers
and a specific purpose and mission.
Development Authority of Snellville: The purpose of the DAS
is to develop and promote for the public good and general welfare,
trade, commerce, industry and employment opportunities and to
promote the general welfare within the city of Snellville.
Downtown Development Authority: The purpose of the DDA
Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

(Urban Redevelopment Agency of Snellville)

THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS WITH
RELATIVE EXPERIENCE TO HELP WITH ITS
DEVELOPMENT MISSION.
CONTACT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ERIC
VAN OTTEREN IF INTERESTED @ 770-985-3502.

Economic Development Spring 2016

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Alphabet Soup in Snellville

is the revitalization and redevelopment of a specific, predefined
business district within the city; to develop and promote for the
public good and general welfare trade, commerce, industry and
employment opportunities and to promote the general welfare of the
city of Snellville.
Urban Redevelopment Agency: An agency is an administrative
unit of the local government. The URA functions under rules
set out by the state of Georgia. Cities embarking on community
revitalization projects utilize powers established in the Urban
Redevelopment Act. The Act remains the most powerful, flexible
and easy to use legislative tool governing the use of bond financing
to support successful public/private revitalization partnerships.
URAs can work to retrofit more pedestrian oriented and useintegrated developments, i.e. walkable communities.
A URA of Snellville may work alone, or in combination with
many of Georgia’s other legislative redevelopment tools (DDA,
DAS) to support local comprehensive planning, revitalize faltering
commercial corridors, recruit and nurture small businesses,
rehabilitate older homes and neighborhoods, ensure architecturally
compatible infill development, and generate new adaptive reuses
for old industrial and agricultural facilities. The URA offers solid
support for innovative and thoughtfully crafted development
strategies needed to solve the problems of the designated target
areas. They may work to reinvigorate town centers and “village”
commercial nodes.
The URA of Snellville has a few key goals:
•Support development of The Towne Center and impacted
businesses;
•Assist in expanding parking in The Towne Center;
•Recruit additional board members; and
•Create a project list of priority activities with a detailed budget.
The last key goal is to increase visibility of the URA through
articles like this one and through other means. While this “alphabet
soup” may seem a tad confusing, understanding these acronyms is
important for the future growth of Snellville.
13
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5th Annual

Come Celebrate

{May 21st}
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2:00 PM -7:00 PM
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Mayor Tom Witts
enjoys some time at
the Beach Blast with
his niece Ashley and
STAT the CAT.
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Children enjoy the sack races.

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We invite everyone to join STAT the CAT
in celebrating his second birthday with
all of his mascot friends. If you want to
bring STAT the CAT a gift please bring
canned goods that will be donated to
the Southeast Gwinnett Food Co-op.
STAT the CAT wants to make sure he
helps others in the community have
food on the table.

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May is a month that brings back thoughts
of going to the beach. But guess what,
you don’t need to drive for hours to get
there - the beach is coming to you. That’s
right, Snellville’s Fifth Annual Beach Blast
is going to transform Oak Road into a
Beach with 70 tons of soft white sand that
has been donated by E.R. Snell. This will
be a fun-filled day packed with activities for
the entire family to enjoy.

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Celebrating his second birthday will be STAT the CAT with all of his mascot friends at the 5th Annual Snellville Beach Blast!
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Lots of great food vendors to satisfy any appetite!

{ 5:00 - 7:00 PM }
Gold Standard Band

......................................

Join us for fun in the sun and enjoy great food, music
and the following activities throughout the day:
{ 2:00 PM }
Dedication of the New Towne Green
{ 2:30 PM }
Mascot Parade Around the Green
{ 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM }
Fun and Games with DJ Lee
Watermelon Eating Contest
Sack Races
Hula Hoop Contest for All Ages
The Limbo... How “LOW” can you go?
Inflatables and Water Slide
Bungee Jump
Trackless Train Rides
{ 5:00 - 7:00 PM }
Gold Standard Band

By Eric Van Otteren
The Snellville Entrepreneurship Alliance is again assembling local
business owners to fund a Shark Tank for youth entrepreneurs from
South Gwinnett and Brookwood high schools. The youth business
owners will present themselves to the Sharks, local business owners,
to pitch for grant funding to launch and/or grow their business.
The Shark Tank will take place May 2 and 3 in the Snellville City
Hall. For details or to inquire about being a shark, contact Eric Van
Otteren at evanotteren@snellville.org.
Here is a sneak peek at a few of the youth businesses headed for
the Tank.
Pure Clothing – Pure Clothing Brand
focuses on being true to yourself. Most kids
have trouble fitting in school since high
school is one of the hardest times in a young
adult’s life. Therefore, we simply want to
help young adults be true to themselves.
Clothing from our brand is a simple, easy
way for kids to show their individuality.
You can run with crowds, but, at the same
time, make sure you are being yourself
and free from negative influence. Pure Clothing Brand is owned
and operated by Matthew Lescota and Malachi Picart, students at
Brookwood High School.
You can reach us at buypureclothing@gmail.com for any inquires.
Follow us on Instagram @PureClothing.Brand.
Nexis Computers – My name is
Michael Morrison. My business is Nexis
Computers. I am a junior at South Gwinnett
High School. I started my company last
year to support my dream of being my
own boss. Nexis Computers provides
PC error correction, hardware setup and
virus removal services. Nexis computers
is dedicated to providing expert service at
a competitive price. I have been working
on building my business in my entrepreneurship class at South
Gwinnett High School. This class has taught me how to increase
my market share and how to improve my service life cycle in the
growth planning stages. I love being an entrepreneur because of
independence, wealth creation , and helping my community. I look
forward to being a part of the Shark Tank competition in Snellville
this May.
Mattkicksatl – Mattkicksatl is an online
company that buys and resells Nike and
Adidas sneakers. The sneakers we sell are
100 percent authentic. We provide these
sneakers to people that are willing to pay
Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

a price of $200 to $1000-plus for our sneakers. Mattkicksatl, sole
proprietorship, is run by Matthew Wilson, a Brookwood High
School freshman. Wilson is enrolled in the entrepreneurship program
at Brookwood High School. Matt’s love for sneakers started off as
wearing a different pair every day. Now his love for sneakers has
turned it to a successful business and it keeps growing every day.
Please contact us if you have any questions or inquiries
mattkicksig@gmail.com.
Like us on Facebook at Matt Wilson.

Economic Development Spring 2016

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: SHARKS ARE BACK

Animated FX – Animated FX, an
innovative local business, which focuses
on designing distinguishable, high quality
logos for small, startup businesses at a fairprice. Our goal as a business is to improve
the quality of logos, therefore leading us
to be easily recognizable for our creative
and vivid range of art. Anthony Gorney,
a freshman in the entrepreneurship program at Brookwood High
School, is the sole proprietor of Animated FX. As my business
has advanced in the market I have faced many obstacles with the
distribution and finances of graphic design. I have received a variety
of thought and opinion from local entrepreneurs who helped me
pursue my passion for graphic design in a small business.
Please contact us if you have any questions at
anthonykingstongorney@gmail.com.
New Definition - New Definition, a rare business in the fashion
industry, molds to the needs and wants of every customer by selling
personally hand-crafted clothing with a combination of your design
aesthetic and the owner’s design ability and fashion knowledge. Our
desire is to create a more personalized look for people who want to
stand out in a crowd. Our mission is to be creative, new, and distinct
to provide innovative ways for you to express yourself. They aim
for originality because New Definition wants to increase the amount
of uniqueness in a remake wonderland where businesses copy other
designers. New Definition does not want to only make modern
clothes; they want to inspire people to be themselves. With our
clothing our customer can feel more freedom to express themselves.
Kaliena Bowen is the sole proprietor of New Definition and is
currently a 9th grade student progressing through the Embedded
Credit Entrepreneurship class held at Brookwood High School. This
program has helped her and many other students learn more about
the business world and prepare for their future. Through this class
New Definition has grown into what it is today.
You can reach New Definition through email at kalienajb@gmail.
com. You can visit our website at: http://kalienab.wix.com/newdef.
Like and follow us on Facebook at New Definition. Also find us
on Instagram.
17

Join us for a patriotic fun-filled day to celebrate veterans
from across the region!
5:00 PM Veterans Program Begins
5:30 PM Live Music
6:30 PM “The Return” A Beatles Tribute Band
IN CONCERT
ALL ERAS SHOW
Presented by:

Visit Wild Wing Cafe in
the month of May for the
“Beer of the Month” Special
to benefit the Snellville Veterans
Memorial.

H Buy a flag for your military hero for only $3.00 and add it to the flag wreat

morial Celebration H
HFREEDOM

IS NEVER FREEH

Relighting the eternal flame was something Vietnam veteran and Mayor Tom Witts was very passionate about.
He wanted to make sure all veterans were remembered on Memorial Day. It is a special day set aside to remind
us of the sacrifices that men and women who have valiantly and selflessly devoted themselves to defending and
protecting our freedom that so many Americans take for granted.
Memorial Day was created to honor those who have paid the ultimate price to ensure our freedom. We hope
you take the opportunity on May 28 from 5 to 9 PM on the Towne Green.

Button Gwinnett Chapter Militia

th that will be placed in front of the Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day. H

Don’t miss our April Small Box Sale
Our most popular box for 25¢ each. Limit
is 25 per transaction so don't miss this opportunity to stock up at a great price!
It only happens once per Year!

Mention this ad for 25% off your first full months rent

Then & Now
Snellville

Story and New Photos by Brian Arrington • Historic Photos Courtesy of Snellville Historical Society

(Left) The intersection of highways 124 and 78 facing north
in 1952 and today. (Above) It’s where Snellville began and
it wasn’t uncommon to see Officer Francis Bobb AKA Sam
Ketchum patrolling the intersection. Now, his modern day
counterpart, Neal Carter is the one patrolling city streets
on his motorcycle.

By Brian Arrington

incorporated and E.R. Snell Contractor was founded.

There isn’t much of Snellville’s history evident in
the buildings that still exist here. They have been torn
down in the name of progress decades ago. Thanks to a
photo collection belonging to the Snellville Historical
Society, much of Snellville from the good ol’ days can be
recounted.

Then came the prevalence of the Interstate and people
could work in Atlanta, according to Tom Ewing of the
Snellville Historical Society. This new freedom turned
Snellville from a rural community, into a suburban one.

It was a simpler time back then according to Chris Snell,
whose family bears the name of the town, horses and gokarts were a more common sight on Highway 78 than the
thousands of vehicles which travel the busy road each day
now.
“In the 1950s, there weren’t but a few people who
owned land,” said Snell, whose family has owned and
operated E.R. Snell Contractor Inc. since 1923. The
year is significant because it was the year the city was
24

“It was just boom, boom, boom from then on,” Snell
said.
During the housing boom of the 2000s, Snell said a lot
of houses were being built that didn’t necessarily add to
the character city.
“There was such rapid growth - small-lot houses probably a lot less quality houses then too,” he said,
adding things are looking up these days. “I think the city
is heading in the right direction. I think there needs to be a
positive attitude which there already seems to be.”

The intersection of highways 124 and 78 facing south. The Sawyer Store, which was owned and operated by James
Sawyer was the center of town.

The G.F. Snell House, located across the street from Krystal, is now the location of Snellville Plaza on Highway 78
near Highway 124 across from Civic Drive.

Looking north along North Road from Pinehurst Road. Sidney Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; barn is on the right and his home is in the
distance.

Wendel Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s service station on Highway 78 across from South Gwinnett High School. It has been replaced with a
shopping center which has a Subway.

This was Snellville Methodist Church from 1886-1952. Currently, the church has many different buildings on the
original site on Highway 78.

Workers build a water tower on Nob Hill, a neighborhood west of Highway 124 between Oak Road and Highway 78.
Currently the tower is painted to blend in with a blue sky.

Join after July 1 the cost for the remainder of the year is $9
for City Residents; $15 for County Residents; and $18 for
Out-of-County Residents
Additional persons from the same household receive a $5
discount

ACTIVITIES AND
TRIPS

The Senior Center offers day and overnight trips as well as
special events. Information is updated bi-monthly in our
Spotlight Newsletter which includes a current calendar of
events. Newsletters can be picked up at the center, found on
our website at www.snellville.org or mailed to your home
once you join. Contact the Senior Center at 770-985-3580 to
register and for additional information.
Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

2016

ON THE LAWN

Presented by:

CONCERT SERIES

MAY 28th ‘The Return - A Beatles Tribute Band’
“They are known as one of the best Beatles cover bands in the
country for a reason, and it was evident from our fans’ reaction to
hearing them play.”
— Scott Cunningham, Director of Entertainment, Atlanta Braves
“They were great! Their energy and enthusiasm jumps off the
stage. It was quite fun to watch them and imagine what it must
have been like at an actual Beatles concert!”
— Tony Perkins, Good Morning America
“Seeing the Return is like traveling back to Liverpool in the
early 1960s...The Beatles live thanks to the Return!”
— Jim Weiss, Senior VP of PR, Turner Broadcasting

All Eras Show

July 16th ‘The Ultimate Eagles Tribute - On the Border’
ON THE BORDER - The Ultimate Eagles Tribute from Charlotte,
NC, continues to be touted as the most authentic sounding Eagles
Tribute band in the country and as of 2015, crowned “The Greatest
EAGLES Tribute Band in the World” by AXSTV and Katie Daryl.

Performing over 40 shows a year all over the U.S. at Major
Festivals, Music Venues, Casinos, Theaters, Corporate and Private
events. Their passion, showmanship and precise attention to replicating the details of The Eagles Music, has earned them critical
acclaim, name recognition and a loyal following. Together, they
reproduce the recordings of the Eagles catalog with stunning guitar
work, lead vocals and the harmonies have been said to capture the
feeling of being at an actual Eagles concert!

August 20th ‘Rhythm Nation’

With more than 17 years of traveling and entertaining
music lovers of all ages and thousands of client accolades
acknowledged, the award winning and internationally
performing band Rhythm Nation makes it their mission to
create an unforgettable event every time they step on stage!
Rhythm Nation performances blend elements of popular,
timeless and recognizable musical genres which create spirited events that are enjoyed by all and happily remembered
long after the event has concluded.

Check www.SnellvilleTourism.com for information about our
September 24th concert as it becomes available.
Keystone Sponsor:

29

T.W. BRISCOE PARK
More Than Just a Place to Walk
By Brian Arrington
Known for its walking trails which wind around a
picturesque lake and fountain, T.W. Briscoe Park is now a
weekend destination for those who crave more than just a
brisk walk.
Since joining the staff at the Department of Parks and
Recreation, Jillian Bouchard has been charged with increasing
weekend events at the park. Mission accomplished.
From Pizza Parties to events for dogs and their canineloving masters, the park is now a go to locale for weekend
fun.
It started last year with pool parties, the dog party dubbed
the Canine Carnival and Guns & Hoses, a softball matchup
between the Snellville Police Department and the Gwinnett
County Fire Department.
“We want to get people to come to the park,” Bouchard
said. “We want them to get used to coming to the park,
checking Facebook and checking the website and saying,
‘Hey, what’s going on at Briscoe this weekend?’”
This spring, the park will be home to PAWFest, an animal
friendly event to benefit the Gwinnett Humane Society on
May 14, a Lego Camp June 6-10 and Sprinkler Day June 25.
But the big event of the year will come in the form of
BBQ, Brews and Braves the first of which is on Father’s Day
Weekend. It’s an event which invites dads to come to the
park, enjoy BBQ, beer and the Braves on a big screen TV
outdoors. The event is set for 8:15 p.m. June 18 and at 7:15
p.m. Aug. 6. Vendor applications are still being accepted for
the event which will feature participation by Atlanta Sports
Radio Station 680 the Fan.
Follow the park on Facebook for more event information
and see pages 18 and 19 for a list of events.

Concert Series - 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
May 28 - The Return
(Beatles Tribute)
ALL ERAS SHOW
July 16 - The Ultimate Eagles
Tribute - On the Border
August 20 - Rhythm Nation
September 24 - TBA
Towne Green
Food, Beer and Wine will be
available for purchase!

SNELLVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET
Opens June 4 • 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Fresh and Delicious • Shop Local • Buy Local • Eat Local
Chick-fil-A will be at the market early every morning selling their famous chicken biscuits!
By Gretchen Schulz
Hey Snellville! Mark your calendar for June 4th and get your
market tote ready!
The Snellville Farmers’ Market will open for its seventh
season that day and will continue every Saturday through
September 24th. Market hours are 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Our opening day will begin with the national anthem at
8:30 am, sung by Snellville’s own Kriss Johnson, who is the
reigning Ms. Senior Georgia.
The market is located on the Towne Green in front of City
Hall, at the intersection of Hwy 78 and Oak Road. Market
volunteers are very excited about the improvements to the
Towne Green that have been made over the past few months.
A knee-high brick wall now surrounds the Green, which will
provide a barrier to help prevent children or dogs (the market
is very dog friendly!) from running into traffic. The wall will
also provide seating for customers who wish to sit down to eat
or just take a break from shopping. Additional trees have been
planted along the wall to provide shade and a new entrance to
the Green provides an attractive gateway to the space.
Over the winter months, market volunteers have been busy
signing up many longtime vendors as well as courting some
new ones. Some new products you can expect to see are:
•

•

•

Chick-fil-A (Hwy 78): Chick-fil-A will offer a
breakfast menu, including their popular chicken
biscuits, for the first couple hours of the market. They
will then switch to a lunch menu, including Chickfil-A sandwiches.
Two of our longtime vendors are now licensed to sell
meats at the market and will bring a variety of cuts
of pork and sausage: Richard Presley of Presley’s
Farm and Garden in Maysville, GA and Clinton and
Jesse Pace of Southern Berkshire Farm (formerly
Pace Produce) of Westminster, SC. Richard will also
continue to sell produce while the Pace family is only
growing vegetables now to feed their pigs.
Johnston Family Farm: Russell and Kerry Johnston
of Newborn, GA will bring several varieties of milk
to the market, including whole, 2% and buttermilk.
They raise and milk Jersey-Holstein, HolsteinNorwegian Red and Holstein-Jersey-Norwegian Red
crossbreeds. All milk is processed on their farm. All

Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

•
•

cows are pastured and primarily grass fed and are not
medicated or given anitbiotics. The Johnstons will
also offer butter, Cheddar curds and Feta cheese.
We have some baked goods vendors who have been
working on recipes for yeast breads over the past few
months.
We are expanding our craft offerings a little this year.
Sam Roper, who bills himself as the Chief Drawing
Dude for Rope A Dope Toons, will be at the market
drawing caricatures. And two local women, Kerry
Hetherington and Lynn Lawton, will each attend four
markets. Kerry does calligraphy on canvas, paper and
wood and Lynn (Letters by Lynn) offers architectural
photos that are assembled to spell words and names.

We look forward to seeing you at the market, THE place to
be on Saturday morning in Snellville!

WWW.SNELLVILLEFARMERSMARKET.COM
33

COMMUNITY GARDEN @SNELLVILLE
Greenhouse Erected
By Gretchen Schulz

If you have made a trip to the city’s
Recycling Center recently and glanced
over at the Community Garden across
the street, you’ve probably noticed the
garden’s new greenhouse. It’s hard to miss
the 20’ x 40’ structure, which teams of
volunteers have worked to erect over the
past several months.
A donation in 2013 allowed the
Community Garden to purchase the
used greenhouse and equipment.
Garden volunteers had to disassemble
the structure, move all the parts to the
Community Garden in Briscoe Park, and
then reassemble it. Work has continued
over a period of months to get it erected.

The greenhouse will provide a
protected space to begin sowing seeds
and propagating plants and conduct
spring and fall plant sales to raise funds
to support the garden. The greenhouse
will also be available for the Gwinnett
County Extension Service and master
gardeners for classes and demonstrations.
The greenhouse will be managed by
a committee led by Master Gardeners
Ileen Meggison and Wes Nettleton. The
committee is now working to establish
policies for greenhouse use to ensure the
structure is well cared for.
The garden is especially grateful to
the Gwinnett County Master Gardeners
Association which recently awarded the
garden a $518 grant to use for start-up
supplies, including soil and fertilizer.

WHAT’S COMING TO TOWN?
Snellville will be home to several new storefronts in the
coming months. From 12Stone Church on Scenic Highway
to the new Dogwood Station on Dogwood Road and Scenic
Highway, the city will have its fair share of new occupants.
Scenic Promenade, which recently saw the opening of The
Fresh Market and Home Goods, also has a new Best Buy.
The Park Place Retail Center will also house Aspen Dental,
Cracker Barrel, Zaxby’s and a Freddy’s Frozen Custard.

Minor illnesses and injuries can happen anytime. When they do, you
don’t have to settle for anything less than our doctors and nurses,
who are specially trained to care for your child. And with our online
scheduling, you can get in line for check-in before you leave home.
Learn more at choa.org/urgentcare.